The answer to your selected question is shown below.
Please use the Search tool or the menus on the right to find and select more questions and answers. If you think our response isnt clear, it would be very helpful if you could contact us with the issue so that we can improve this section of our web-site.
What is the Best Method for Security Shutter Operation?
As technology has advanced recently, more and more security shutters are being installed with motorised electric operation.
The manual operations available for a security shutter are:
1. Belt operation, which is on the inside of the wall and is pulled to lift the shutter up and released to lower the shutter. These are most typically used on lighter weight shutters in domestic applications as they can be open to abuse! The shutter can be inside or outside with the operator opening from the inside.
2. With a rod crank which is a metal rod on the inside of the wall as per the belt operation. It configures into a dog leg position to allow the user to wind the shutter up or down. This is used for heavier shutters than belt operation allows and is more common in commercial as well as domestic applications. The shutter can be inside or outside with the operator opening from the inside.
3. The final manual operation method available is spring loaded, push up and pull down. This mode of operation has springs within the barrel of the shutter which counter balance the shutter curtain when in the open position. The operator pulls the shutter down and turns a key lock in the bottom slat which keeps the shutter locked. This is used on larger shutters and where the user has to open the shutter from the external face e.g on a shop entrance.It is one of the most common forms of manual operation and provides the best security in a manual shutter with extra locks also available to secure the curtain when closed.
Motorised electric operation offers the largest amount of flexibility and ease of use. In its simplest form there is a hard wired wall switch next to the shutter which has an up and down button. This can be upgraded to a key switch which allows the user secure access from the outside of the building.
In a scenario where there are multiple shutters, these can be linked or grouped to allow group and individual control. This is particularly useful when closing a building at night or at the end of the day avoiding closing every shutter one by one.
Remote controls are also used in conjunction with motorised shutters. These are fairly common on shops and other entrances where there may be multiple users who can each be given a transmitter. This also avoids any potential problems of a key switch being vandalised. With a remote option there are no controls situated on the outside face of the building. Careful attention must be given to safety systems with remote control shutters avoiding potential issues if the shutters are operated without full visibility.
As wireless technology has become more readily available, a number of customers are using this in buildings where the internal decoration is of high importance. The internal switches are wireless meaning that they can be positioned anywhere in the house (within range) and no trunking or chasing out of walls is required. This option also offers a number of options which include integrating the system into an intelligent home system.
